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Removal of smiley-face mural causes uproar on social media

It was painted back in August by the British artists known as "The London Police," two men who have created unique artwork around the world.

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Updated: 7:01 PM EST Nov 12, 2013

Removal of smiley-face mural causes uproar on social media

It was painted back in August by the British artists known as "The London Police," two men who have created unique artwork around the world.

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Updated: 7:01 PM EST Nov 12, 2013

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WEBVTT A LOT OF UNHAPPY FACESTONIGHT... OVER THE REMOVAL OF AFAMOUS SMILEY-FACE MURAL.INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS, "THELONDON POLICE" .... TURNEDNORTHERN KENTUCKY INTO THEIR OWNCANVAS..... BACK IN SEPTEMBER...BUT ONE OF THOSE PIECES.... HASBEEN COVERED UP TONIGHT.CALL IT UNFORTUNATE TIMING... ORA "CONTRACT CONFLICT"....EITHER WAY... IT HAS SOCIALMEDIA SITES IN AN UPROAR TODAY.WL-WT'S TERRY DANIELS IS LEADINGTHE WAY... WITH THE BIG STORY INCOVINGTON.TERRY.THE ISSUE IS THIS FRESHLYPAINTED WALL BEHIND ME AT THECORK NBOTTLE. THE PROBLEM...ACCORDING TO MANY OF THOSE INTHE COVINGTON ART COMMUNITY...ISWHAT THE NEW PAINT IS COVERINGUP.( C0023 "i totally wish it wouldhave stayed.") THIS IS THE MURALNOW COVERED UP AT COVINGTON'SCORK N BOTTLE.IT WAS PAINTED BACK IN AUGUST BYBRITISH ARTISTS KNOWN AS "THELONDON POLICE" ...TWO GUYS WHOHAVE CREATED UNIQUE ARTWORKAROUND THE WORLD.(c0025 "super detailed ...thattype of line work...") CHRISRITTER IS A CO-PARTNER OFB.L.D.G ....AN ART GROUP INCOVINGTON. HE SAYS THE LONDONPOLICE WORK WAS SUPPOSED TO BEUP FOR AT LEAST A YEAR.(c0023 "there are not manycities our size that can claimto have 11 pieces by the londonpolice floating around the cityso losing a big one is a bigdeal.") THE LONDON POLICE DIDPAINT A NUMBER OF MURALS AROUNDTHE AREA--INCLUDING THIS WORK WEPROFILED AT THE AIRPORT. ...ANDTHIS PARTIALLY FINISHED PIECE ATDICK'S LIQUOR AT 4TH AND SCOTT.(c0008 "i like em") MANAGERCHARLIE HERRMANN SAYS PEOPLENOTICE THE UNIQUINESS OF WHAT HECALLS "THE GOOFY DOG".(C0008 "it would have been funto see what they wanted to dowith it...so you're not about tocover it up though?...absolutelynot!") AS FOR THE CORK N BOTTLECOVERUP...A STATEMENT SAYS IT'SBECAUSE THE BOTTLE IN THE PIECEWAS AN INFRINGEMENT ON THEMAKER'S MARK TRADEMARK.(pre-prod) A CITY SPOKESWOMANTELLS ME "THEY ARE SUPPORTERS OFART AND SAD TO SEE ART GO" BUT APRIVATE BUSINESS CAN DO WHAT ITWANTS. (end pre-prod) CHRIS SAYSHE WISHES SOMETHING COULD HAVESAVED IT.(c0023 "for big name artists tocome to the city of covingtonis pretty unusual...it's reallyspecial...so i'm dissappointedmore than anything.")MAKING THIS EVEN HARDER FORCHRIS...ONE OF B.L.D.G.'S OTHEROWNERS...MIKE AMANN DIED OFCANCER SUNDAY ...ONE DAY BEFORETHIS ARTWORK THAT HE LOVED WASPAINTED OVER. A STATEMENT FROMTHE CORK N BOTTLE SAYS THEY AREMAKING A DONATION IN HIS NAME TOTHE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY.REPORTING LIVE, TERRY DANIELS,WLWT NEWS FIVE.THE LONDON POLICE RELEASING THISSTATEMENT TO WL-WT... QUOTE,"SURE WE ARE DISAPPOINTED BUTWHAT IS DONE IS DONE. WE AREFLATTERED THAT PEOPLE CARE SOMUCH ABOUTTHE ARTWORK WE MADE IN THE CITYOF COVINGTON. WE FEEL PUBLIC ARTPROMOTES POSITIVITY ANDINSPIRES." THEY ALSO EXPRESSEDTHEIR SORROW OVER AMANN'SDEATH... SAYING THEY ADMIRED HISPASSION.THE CORK N BOTTLE ALSOAPOLOGIZED FOR REMOVING THEMURAL... AND NOW SAYS NEW ARTWILL BE PUT UP NEXT SPRING.

Removal of smiley-face mural causes uproar on social media

It was painted back in August by the British artists known as "The London Police," two men who have created unique artwork around the world.